MLB Recent Player News

Beltre is retiring after 21 seasons and 3,166 hits. He announced his decision Tuesday in a statement released by the Rangers. The four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner says his decision came after ''careful consideration and many sleepless nights.''

Analysis: Beltre made his big league debut at 19 with the Dodgers in 1998. He played with Los Angeles until 2004, then was with the Seattle Mariners from 2005-09 and the Boston Red Sox in 2010. He joined the Rangers as a free agent in 2011 and appeared in his only World Series in his first season with Texas. In 2,933 career games, Beltre hit .286 with 477 home runs and 1,707 RBIs.

The Red Sox will be bringing back Pearce, the MVP of their World Series victory over the Dodgers. The first baseman agreed to a one-year contract worth $6.25 million.

Analysis: Pearce will mainly serve as the right-handed part of a platoon with Mitch Moreland, though he's a proven hitter in the right matchup. The 35-year-old hit .304 with a .959 OPS in 102 at-bats against left-handers this past season.

Mauer has decided to retire after 15 seasons. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Friday that Mauer has taken out an ad in its Sunday paper to announce his retirement. The newspaper reports that Mauer, who missed significant time this season with a concussion, says in the ad that his decision ''came down to my health and my family.''

Analysis: Mauer is 35 and his eight-year, $184 million contract expired after this season.

The Mariners have acquired Smith from the Rays while sending catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia to Tampa Bay as part of a five-player trade.

Analysis: Smith's 40 stolen bases in 2018 ranked third in the majors and he added a solid .296 average and .367 on-base percentage as a top-of-the-order threat. The 25-year-old should take over as the Mariners' regular center fielder, which would move Dee Gordon permanently to second base and likely makes Robinson Cano mostly a DH.

The Rays have acquired Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia from the Mariners in a five-player trade that sent outfielder Mallex Smith to Seattle.

Analysis: Though only a .207 career hitter in the majors, Zunino's 45 homers over the past two seasons rank fourth among all MLB catchers and his defense is well-regarded. The Florida native should slot right in as Tampa Bay's primary backstop.